Jimi Hendrix Encyclopedia

Did you see Jimi Hendrix in concert? Did you meet Jimi Hendrix or have the opportunity to interview him or have some other unique, first-person encounter with Jimi Hendrix? If so, Experience Hendrix wants to hear from you.

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January 18, 1967

The Jimi Hendrix Experience perform “Hey Joe” at Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd’s Bush for the BBC’s Top Of The Pops show. The performance included Hendrix singing over an instrumental backing track to meet regulations of the British Musicians’ Union.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience make a live appearance on the radio program Pop North on the BBC Light program. Unfortunately, with the show being aired live, the BBC did not record or preserve the performances. Set List: Hey Joe // Rock Me Baby // Foxey Lady

The Experience return to the Saville Theatre with filmmaker Peter Clifton to film additional footage of The Experience performing “Hey Joe.” This color film footage is later interspersed with the black & white footage shot during The Experience’s live concerts from January 29th and included in Clifton’s films Superstars In Concert and Popcorn, plus mixed together with a studio recording of “Hey Joe” for the song’s promotional music video.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience record a series of songs for the BBC’s Saturday Club radio program at the BBC Broadcasting House in Marylebone. The recordings were first broadcast on February 18 along with a short interview with Jimi Hendrix done by DJ Brian Matthew. These recordings have subsequently been released as part of The Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC SessionsSet List: Foxey Lady [2 takes] // Stone Free // Hey Joe // Love Or Confusion

The Experience travel to the Sonian Forest (Zoniënwoud) on the outskirts of Brussels where they participate in a mimed television appearance for the Belgian show Vibrato. The forest location proves a unique setting for the television appearance. Although the show originally airs on March 21st, the original tapes are not preserved and no recordings exist from this date. During their visit, The Experience are photographed in the forest and those images have appeared in a variety of publications over the years, including the 2000 box set The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Set List: Hey Joe // Stone Free

In the afternoon, The Experience head to Hilversum to conduct rehearsals for their forthcoming appearance on Fanclub, which is scheduled to air live on national television. During the rehearsals, it is suggested that Hendrix mime the live performance because they are playing so loud that it knocked plaster off the ceiling in the studio below their rehearsal space. Despite considerable argument from Hendrix, the final live performance on Fanclub at 7 p.m. is in fact mimed while its broadcast throughout The Netherlands. As Fanclub was broadcast live, the performance was not preserved on film. Set List: Hey Joe // Stone Free

The Jimi Hendrix Experience appear on Twenclub, a live radio program aired from Norddeutscher Rundfunk (aka NDR Radio 1). During their appearance, The Experience are interviewed before and after performing the following songs: “Foxey Lady,” “Hey Joe,” “Stone Free,” “Fire,” and “Purple Haze.” The show is later re-broadcast by the BBC throughout England on July 1st as part of the program, Hamburg Swings. Set List: Foxey Lady // Hey Joe // Stone Free // Fire // Purple Haze

The Jimi Hendrix Experience record “Purple Haze” for the April 4th episode of the BBC television show Dee Time. Cat Stevens, Kiki Dee, Libby Morris, Mike Newman and Lance Percival are also guests on this episode. Unfortunately, no tapes of this episode remain in the BBC archives. Set List: Purple Haze

The Jimi Hendrix Experience appear on the BBC Radio program Saturday Club, performing “Killing Floor,” “Fire,” and “Purple Haze.” This March 28th recording would first broadcast on April 1st. These songs have since been included on the 1998 release of The Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions. Set List: Killing Floor // Fire // Purple Haze

The Jimi Hendrix Experience make another appearance at the BBC, this time on the hit program Top Of The Pops. Once again, the appearance which featured two takes of “Purple Haze,” saw Hendrix singing over an instrumental backing track to meet regulations of the British Musicians’ Union. Also scheduled to appear on the program were Cat Stevens; Alan Price; Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick (aka Dave Dee & Co.); Engelbert Humperdinck; Dusty Springfield; Cliff Richard; The Byrds; and Sandie Shaw. It was no accident that Hendrix would appear with the likes of Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck as a national touring featuring these acts (and more) would kick off on March 31st at the Astoria in Finsbury Park. Set List: Purple Haze [two takes]

The Jimi Hendrix Experience perform at the BBC Playhouse Theatre on Northumberland Avenue in the City of Westminster, London. This made-for-live-radio performance was broadcast on the Monday Monday radio program. Unfortunately no recordings are known to exist for this performance.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience perform two songs, “Manic Depression” and “Purple Haze” for the BBC Two program Late Night Line-Up. The show airs on May 17th as part of their show “Psychedelic Happening,” which also featured an interview with the band.

Unfortunately, the original tapes from the program were never preserved and all that remains is a copy tape from a later re-broadcast of the program that omitted “Purple Haze.” This source tape was used in 1998 for the inclusion of “Manic Depression” on the acclaimed compilation The Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions.

Radio promo announcing a “new group,” The Jimi Hendrix Experiencing were joining The Monkees tour and were scheduled to appear on July 29, 1967 in Detroit, MI. The Experience would not perform on this date, having left the tour following their July 16 performance in Queens, New York.

Here’s the voice of Experience — Jimi Hendrix – Jane Scott They’re hotter than a Hullabaloo at high noon in Haiti. And it’s only 11 more days (count ’em!) until the big Experience at Public Music Hall. So what will the Jimi Hendrix Experience play at the two WKYC whambangs on March 12? They never know, Jimi admitted in a telephone interview from New York. “SEE, WE get out there and someone says ‘What shall we do”’ and then somehow we do it,” said bass-guitar player Noel Redding, 22. That should go down somewhere as the understatement of ’68. Jimi was voted the world’s top pop musician in Britain’s anual Melody Makers Poll this fall. The trio’s Reprise LP “Axis: Bold as Love” whipped up 116 places on the charts in one week. It’s No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot LP list now. Their first show here sold out in one hour and 45 minutes and the second is a sell-out, too. WELL, YES, they’re a little controversial. Jimi has been known to smash his guitar to smithereens, play it on his stomach or even with his teeth. The San Francisco Daughters of the American Revolution blocked the trio’s appearance with the Monkees last year. And that hair! “They seem to be singing their way to an electrocution,” wrote a Newsweek reporter. Does look a little like old scared Shredded Wheat. “Mine is only to my shoulders so I’m letting it grow,” said Noel. “It’s sort of curly and it kind of sticks out. I have to wash it every other day.” RIGHT now they all have moustaches, but may shave them before Cleveland day. “Right now I’m wearing red boots, pink trousers, a ruffly shirt and a yellow jacket,” reported Noel. “And Jim, he’s over there in green trousers and a blue ruffled shirt and a big black hat with a feather that’s broke off at the top.” The Experience were having their pictures taken for a magazine. But Newsweek hasn’t heard the half of it. “THE OTHER night after our Washington show Mitch (Mitch Mitchell the drummer) poked his head in my room and said he thought he’d like to go to London and we haven’t seen him since,” said Noel. (Mitch is due back today, though.) You know the scoop. Noel and Mitch are 22 and 21-year-old Englishmen and Jimi is a Seattle native, 22, who made it big in Britain. Why do they call themselves the Experience? “Because good, bad or indifferent, it’s an experience.” said Jimi. NOW ABOUT that first name. “My grandmother spelled it that way,” he answered. Jimi, born Nov. 27, 1945, had two big breaks, one of them good. The first was a back injury after a parachute jump that closed his military career at 16. The second was a drop-in visit from Chas Chandler of the Animals at his gig with a combo in the Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village. Chandler talked Hendrix into heading for England. “And that’s where I met him,” said Noel. I came down to audition for the Animals and this guy comes up and asked me if I could play bass. I said ‘I’ll have it a try,’ and I was in.” ONE MONTH later the Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first gig in Paris and the rest is history. You know about their smash success at the Monterey Internationa] Pop Festival in June. Noel, born in Folkstone, Kent on Dec. 25, 1945, started out on the violin at 13, studied art a year at an art college. “Modern art, it was. Lost my touch a bit now, but I could always go back someday,” he said. He borrowed that money for the historic audition. The other member, Mitch, had a fiery career before becoming “Experienced.” He began training in dancing and acting at age three, did TV commercials at 10 and traveled around the world a year with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. Mitch was also a demand drummer on London recording sessions and played in the orchestra of Britian’s TV show, “Ready, Steady, Go.” MITCH WAS born in London on July 9, 1946. “We all live in London now, but were kind of elusive about where,” said Noel. How would THEY describe a Jimi Hendrix Experience? “I don’t know. We’re wild, I guess. And free. We just play what we want. We’re just us. Well, I’d guess you’d say we’re spontaneous. Once I fell off a stage, in Milwaukee. I got a big scratch on me leg. It’s still there,” said Noel. NOEL DIGS Ray Charles, the Beatles, the small Faces, the Traffic. (“You haven’t heard about them? You will!”) and the Move. Speaking of moves, traveling has kept them from getting married. “Mitch was engaged last year but it broke off. Not enough time,” Noel said. Noel would consider the rings and rice bit in maybe three years. “American girls” They’re different but I can’t tell you how,” he said. The group hopes to have their third album out by May. Noel did three songs on it, but the majority was written by Jimi. “I LIKE the softer songs, like ‘Burn the Midnight Lamp,’ ” said Jimi. That’s on the next album. And this top trio click in off hours, too. Cameras, that is. Mitch has a Nikon. Noel has a Yashica and a movie camera and Jimi has everything from a Polaroid to a Reflex. But Jimi Hendrix had his biggest experience Feb. 33. He went back to Seattle. Back to Garfield High where he’d dropped out when he was 16. And got an honorary diploma. Incidentally, this was one performance where teens didn’t have to have tickets. The principal dismissed the first hour classes to hear him.

March 27, 1968 Jimi Hendrix Experience is the wildest thing here – Jane Scott “And now “Wild Thing!'” announced Jimi Hendrix. Then the wildness began last night at Public Music Hall. The tall, stove-pipe slim singer in the rainbow-hued jacket and big black hat started making love to his white guitar. He played it with his teeth. He knelt in front of it. He tore off the strings. And he tossed it behind him. “What an experience!” said Chris Bernard, 16, of Rocky River High. “Wow! This was the ultimate!” “GREATEST thing I’ve seen,” said Denny Marek, player with the local Lost Souls group. “After this Motown is dead.” Some thought it was too great. Police pushed four or five boys off the stage. “They swung at me, but I got it,” exulted John Paulisin, 15, Cathedral Latin School, holding up a guitar string. This was Jimi Hendrix, drummer Mitch Mitchell and guitarist Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and it was an experience that many will never forget. WOULD YOU believe a Seattle-born Negro who had to go to England to make it? A left-hander who plays a right-handed Fender guitar backwards? Hendrix is the hottest musical property since the Monkees. He was voted top pop musician in the world in England’s Melody Maker’s Poll last year. “Freakin” funky,” Hendrix described his music yesterday afternoon. At 8:15 p.m. WKYC’s emcee, Chuck Dunaway, stopped the show to ask teens to look under their seats. Three threatening phone calls had been received, but were proved to be a hoax. Hendrix received $18,000 for the two shows but will leave a reported $8,000 here. He bought a blue Corvette with all the trimmings at Blaushild’s Chevrolet earlier yesterday.

Experience publicist, Michael Goldstein arranged for ABC-TV to record the group’s studio work today for a proposed news feature. Although the 16mm film recordings captured the Experience recording “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” at the Record Plant, no records indicate if the footage was ever used. Unfortunately, this footage, along with the recordings for the Experience’s May 10 show at Fillmore East and May 18 show at the Miami Pop Festival were all stolen from the ABC-TV archives sometime after Hendrix’s death in 1970. Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell are invited to jam with Joe Tex and his band at the Town Hall in New York City.

A live recording session for It Must Be Dusty take place at ITV, Elstree Studios, Studio D in Borehamwood. Included in the recordings are “Stone Free,” “Mockingbird” (with both Hendrix and Springfield on vocals), and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return).” The 15-minutes of recordings are later broadcast on July 12, 1968.

An appearance by The Experience on the Ed Sullivan Show was proposed by Sullivan’s son-in-law, Bob Precht; unfortunately, the event was snubbed before ever making it off the ground. In John McDermott’s “Hendrix: Setting The Record Straight,” Bob Levine recalls, “Sullivan Productions really wanted to have Jimi on. Ed Sullivan had to get him one way or another, so Sullivan, Precht, [Michael] Jeffrey and I sat down to talk. Sullivan wanted to have the Vienna Ballet dance to his music, with Hendrix in front of a big orchestra, done on location in Europe. Jeffrey figured out the money he would need and agreed to the concept verbally. He left the meeting to speak to somebody—I don’t know who—and when, a day or so later, I told him he was supposed to follow up with Bob Precht her replied, ‘We aren’t going to do it.’ I asked if he had spoken to Jimi and he said, ‘No, I am not going to let Hendrix do that. I’ve got my reasons.’ Jimi would have loved to have done it.”

At the preliminary hearing, Judge Robert Taylor ordered Hendrix to return to the Toronto Court House on December 8 for a full trial. Afterwards, Richie Yorke interviewed Hendrix for the Toronto Globe & Mail and the July 9 issue of the Los Angeles Times. Later that evening, Jimi returned to Los Angeles.

Dick Cavett Show, New York Hendrix made a rare television appearance on The Dick Cavett Show. In addition to an interview, he performed a rendition of “Hear My Train A Comin’ backed by Cavett’s studio band.

NBC Television Studios, New York, NY Hendrix makes an appearance on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show and is interviewed by guest host Flip Wilson. After the interview, Hendrix who is joined by Billy Cox (bass) and drummer Ed Shaughnessy. They perform “Lover Man.”

Jimi fails to appear at a previous scheduled meeting with his attorney Henry Steingarten where an update of Hendrix’s broadening financial burdens were to be discussed. In a letter, dated November 11, 1969, Steingarten sent an outline of Jimi’s mounting debt and unfulfilled commitments to him.

On this day, Jimi flew to Toronto, Canada to make a court appearance related to the drug possession charges brought against him in May. While in Toronto, Hendrix was a guest at the posh Royal York Hotel at 100 Front Street West.

Jimi appeared in court at 10 a.m. in defense of a drug possession charge made against him in May 1969. Under the jurisdiction of Judge Joseph Kelly, Hendrix stood beside Defense Attorney John O’Driscoll and before twelve jury members. The first witness for the Crown was Customs Officer Marvin Wilson. It had been Wilson who stopped Hendrix during a Customs check on May 3, 1969 as the guitarist tried to enter Canada to perform at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Wilson recounted his take of the situation, which was subsequently echoed his superior officer, a Customs Supervisor, as well as another Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer. Hendrix then took the stand next. The twenty-seven year old Seattle native proceeded to inform the court that he was entirely unaware of the drugs found in his travel bag. Hendrix made clear his own experimentation with a variety of drugs in the past, but that in this instance, he had no idea that someone had packed drugs in his travel bag. Hendrix claimed that the drugs were mistakenly packed in one of his travel bags along with a number of other gifts he had received from fans while attending a party in Hollywood.

Jimi returned to court to take the stand once again, recounting his side of the story. After Jimi concluded his testimony, journalist Sharon Lawrence was called next. Lawrence testified that she had been with Hendrix at the Beverly Rodeo Hotel prior to his departure. Lawrence echoed Hendrix’s explanation that the drugs had been placed in the guitarist’s travel bags without his knowledge. The defense then called Hendrix’s former producer and co-manager Chas Chandler. Chandler proved to be a compelling witness, lending credibility to Hendrix’s claim while providing details within the life of a successful touring musician.

Jimi Hendrix’s trial for drug possession entered its third day. Both the Counsel for the Defense and the Counsel for the Prosecution made their final address before the jury. The Defense rested the case on the law that to be charged with the possession of a narcotic there has to be knowledge of its existence. Hendrix’s attorney John O’Driscoll reminded the jury that a conviction cannot be handed down if there is any doubt. After a brief address by the Counsel for the Prosecution the jury left the courtroom and deliberated for eight hours before returning with a verdict of not guilty.

Just months after leaving the Experience to front Fat Mattress, Noel Redding’s group was coming undone. Rolling Stone magazine was among the first to reveal the group’s undoing. “Despite reports to the contrary, Noel Redding’s Fat Mattress was not breaking up. Redding became ill during the group’s million-dollar American tour. In a statement from the Robert Stigwood Organization (Fat Mattress’s management company) said, “Fat Mattress’s debut tour of America has been postponed because of lead guitarist Noel Redding’s sudden illness.” Chas Chandler, the group’s manager strongly denied all rumors pointing the groups split saying “Noel flew home from New York after consulting his doctor and Rik Grunnell, head of the Stigwood office in the States. Noel will be taking a complete rest over the Christmas holiday at a secret address. New plans for Fat Mattress will be put into operation and announced in January.”

Hendrix and attorney Henry Steingarten conduct a telephone conversation surrounding the issues of November 10th. A follow-up letter is sent to Hendrix on December 24 that further outlines the decisions made during the conversation. Record Plant, New York Studio Recording Honey Bed Technical problems hindered Hendrix’s progress on this night. This session was dedicated to “Honey Bed,” an intriguing demo that seemed to draw upon elements of “Bleeding Heart” and “Come Down Hard On Me.” As take three wound down, Hendrix guided Cox and Miles through an early rendition of “Night Bird Flying.” Just past the two-minute mark, a terrifying noise caused Jimi to shout, ‘Hey guys, what’s that noise?’ The squelch grew louder before the recording cut out and the session came to a halt. No other recording was attempted.

Despite initial reports that Fat Mattress had not disbanded, new information surfaced about the group’s messy split. Guitarist Noel Redding left for home after suffering what was being called a “nervous breakdown.” A spokesman for the Robert Stigwood Organization said, “the American tour could have been worth a million dollars.” Meanwhile, Jimmy Leverton of Fat Mattress told Melody Maker “the whole thing got out of hand. It was down to a personal thing within the band. We just couldn’t go on.”

The February 7 edition of Rolling Stone took a candid look at the year that was… 1969. And in top marks to Jimi Hendrix, RS said, “Jimi Hendrix had a big year, a pretty neat trick for a musician who made no music. He was busted for dope and got off, his Experience broke up with Hendrix starting a “serious” new experimental group, he quite gigging except for a few festivals, and there were no new records. To Jimi Hendrix, the No News Is Big News Award.”